Discussions aimed at ending the strike by Birmingham waste collectors ended without a breakthrough.
Members of the city's unit union began a full strike in a long-term wage dispute on March 11, leaving the trash piles and bins for weeks. Residents complain that rats are running around waste, leading to fear of public health.
Last Tuesday, nearly 400 council bin workers in the city began indefinite strike action. United said the labor-run city council can end the dispute “by agreeing to pay decent wages.” Union officials met with council officers on Thursday, but the strike continues.
A Unite spokesman said: “The consultations were not conclusive, there was an exchange of information, we united and asked for clarity on the many points raised by the council that is currently working on.
“We agreed that there will be more regular negotiations, but no dates for further consultations have been set yet.”
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “Birmingham City Council and Unity met this afternoon to discuss current industrial action. Today's solution was not reached, but there is a point for discussion, the tone is constructive and we are addressing the issues raised.
“We have contacted Unite representatives to schedule a series of future meetings.”
The council previously said that “escalation” of industrial action meant greater confusion to residents despite “fair and reasonable offers” made to unite members.
Deirdre Alden, a conservative councillor for Edgbaston, said excess trash around the city caused a “explosion” in local rat groups.
“I've heard of rats in the garden, reports of mice in trash cans, eating cables in people's cars. It's like something from Hamelin's Pied Piper,” she said.
Industrial measures were referenced in Congress on Thursday, with the MP saying “the size of a cat is rat.”
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Former Conservative Minister Wendy Morton told MPS that people in the West Midlands fear fly tips across the region due to strikes, and local governments are taking a “active and decisive approach” to tackle it.
The union claims that the council, which ends the role of waste collection and recycling officers, was attacked by 150 workers with a pay cut of up to £8,000.
The council said there were 17 staff members who could lose up to £6,000, and a city hall spokesperson said Unite was “still open” to “go back to the table.”
